MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday called U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry a liar, claiming he had denied that al-Qaida was fighting with the Syrian opposition in that country's civil war.

Speaking to his human rights council, Putin recalled watching a congressional debate where Kerry was asked about al-Qaida. Putin said he had denied that it was operating in Syria, even though he was aware of the al-Qaida-linked Jabhat al-Nusra group.

Putin said: "This was very unpleasant and surprising for me. We talk to them (the Americans) and we assume they are decent people, but he is lying and he knows that he is lying. This is sad."

It was unclear exactly what Putin was referencing, but Kerry was asked Tuesday while testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee if the Syrian opposition had become more infiltrated by al-Qaida.

Kerry responded that that was "basically incorrect" and that the opposition has "increasingly become more defined by its moderation."

When asked if a strike would make al-Nusra and other extremist forces stronger, Kerry responded, "No, I don't believe you do (make them stronger). As a matter of fact, I think you actually make the opposition stronger. And the opposition is getting stronger by the day now."

In testimony Wednesday, Kerry said that he didn't agree that "a majority (of the opposition) are al- Qaida and the bad guys." Extremists amount to 15 to 25 percent of the opposition, he said, including al-Nusra and many other groups that are "fighting each other, even now."

Putin also repeated Russia's position that any use of military force against Syria without the approval of the U.N. Security Council would be an act of aggression.

Israel has granted oil exploration rights inside Syria, in the occupied Golan Heights, to Genie Energy. Major shareholders of Genie Energy – which also has interests in shale gas in the United States and shale oil in Israel – include Rupert Murdoch and Lord Jacob Rothschild. This from a 2010 Genie Energy press release:

Claude Pupkin, CEO of Genie Oil and Gas, commented, “Genie’s success will ultimately depend, in part, on access to the expertise of the oil and gas industry and to the financial markets. Jacob Rothschild and Rupert Murdoch are extremely well regarded by and connected to leaders in these sectors. Their guidance and participation will prove invaluable.”

“I am grateful to Howard Jonas and IDT for the opportunity to invest in this important initiative,” Lord Rothschild said. “Rupert Murdoch’s extraordinary achievements speak for themselves and we are very pleased he has agreed to be our partner. Genie Energy is making good technological progress to tap the world’s substantial oil shale deposits which could transform the future prospects of Israel, the Middle East and our allies around the world.”

For Israel to seek to exploit mineral reserves in the occupied Golan Heights is plainly illegal in international law. Japan was succesfully sued by Singapore before the International Court of Justice for exploitation of Singapore’s oil resources during the second world war. The argument has been made in international law that an occupying power is entitled to opeate oil wells which were previously functioning and operated by the sovereign power, in whose position the occupying power now stands. But there is absolutely no disagreement in the authorities and case law that the drilling of new wells – let alone fracking – by an occupying power is illegal.

Israel tried to make the same move twenty years ago but was forced to back down after a strong reaction from the Syrian government, which gained diplomatic support from the United States. Israel is now seeking to take advantage of the weakened Syrian state; this move perhaps casts a new light on recent Israeli bombings in Syria.

In a rational world, the involvement of Rothschild and Murdoch in this international criminal activity would show them not to be fit and proper persons to hold major commercial interests elsewhere, and action would be taken. Naturally, nothing of the kind will happen.

Does it ever occur to anybody that what we have here are a bunch of chimps with AK47s, figuratively speaking?

Syria's military is nothing to joke about, relative to the rest of the nations in the region. There is a reason for legitimate concern on their part. They do have a rater extensive and advanced air defense system, but that's about it.

Relative to our military however, even with outright backing from Russia, it's not even a contest. The majority of their Air Force consists of MiG 25's which, for frame of reference, were produced toward the end of the Vietnam war, and haven't been in production for about 30 years.

Russia's military has not been able to stand toe-to-toe with the US since 1980 or earlier. Outside of nukes, they haven't been a threat for over a generation.

The only nation in the world that comes even close is China, and even then we way outclass them.

Syria's military is nothing to joke about, relative to the rest of the nations in the region. There is a reason for legitimate concern on their part. They do have a rater extensive and advanced air defense system, but that's about it.

Relative to our military however, even with outright backing from Russia, it's not even a contest. Russia's military has not been able to stand toe-to-toe with the US since 1980 or earlier. Outside of nukes, they haven't been a threat for over a generation.

The only nation in the world that comes even close is China, and even then we way outclass them.

I'm just talking about humans showing a complete incapacity to deal with any issues without resorting to violence. As much as we tout civilization, we're not very civilized at all.

As far as this issue goes, I can't think of a single reason that Syria is of vital interest to the U.S. The Arab League has plenty of wealth and plenty of firepower. So does Israel. Let them deal with it. This atrocity is the reason the UN was created. If it is too cowardly to deal with it, we should withdraw from the organization, stop supporting it, and tell them to find a new home. I suggest they try Beijing.

THIS IS NONE OF OUR BUSINESS!

George Washington: "The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to domestic nations, is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us have none, or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities."

John Quincy Adams: "Wherever the standard of freedom and independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will be America’s heart, her benedictions, and her prayers. But she does not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own."

Washington also said: "Of all enemies to public liberty, war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few."

Syria's military is nothing to joke about, relative to the rest of the nations in the region. There is a reason for legitimate concern on their part. They do have a rater extensive and advanced air defense system, but that's about it.

Relative to our military however, even with outright backing from Russia, it's not even a contest. The majority of their Air Force consists of MiG 25's which, for frame of reference, were produced toward the end of the Vietnam war, and haven't been in production for about 30 years.

Russia's military has not been able to stand toe-to-toe with the US since 1980 or earlier. Outside of nukes, they haven't been a threat for over a generation.

The only nation in the world that comes even close is China, and even then we way outclass them.

This is why a US strike against Syria is so dangerous.

Syria is an ancient country. I am told, the only one in the region that was never conquered by the Assyrians -- and other ancient empires. The Syrians have resisted foreign domination for millennia.

They will never give up.

Apparently Israel will be picking the targets for the US to hit.

The Syrians have the world's largest stock of bio weapons and chemical weapons. God knows what else.

If we start degrading their air defenses and weaken them -- they may feel they are losing their deterrent with Israel. In which case -- it's use it or lose it.

Backed to the wall -- they will defend themselves with everything they have. Why is no one talking about this? It could get very ugly.

Prince Bander, the prince of darkness, is going around telling everyone that Syria won't do anything. They will sit there and take it.

This is just plain craziness. Bander is a war criminal. He is also implicated in 9/11.